Geneva Study Bible I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I am sought by them that {a} asked not for me; I am found by them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, to a nation that was not called by my name.
(a) Meaning, the Gentiles who know not God, would seek him, when he had moved their heart with his Holy Spirit, Ro 10:20. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; I have {b} spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that is not good, after their own {c} thoughts;
(b) He shows the reason for the rejection of the Jews, because they would not obey him or any admonition of his prophets, by whom he called them continually and stretch out his hand to draw them. (c) He shows that to delight in our own fantasies is the declining from God and the beginning of all superstitions and idolatry. A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in {d} gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of {e} brick;
(d) Which were dedicated to idols. (e) Meaning their altars, which he thus named by contempt. Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which remain among the {f} graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat {g} swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
(f) To consult with spirits, and to conjure devils, which was forbidden. (g) Which was contrary to God's commandment, Le 11:7, De 14:8. Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Which say, {h} Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that {i} burneth all the day.
(h) He shows that hypocrisy is always joined with pride and contempt of others. (i) Their punishment will never have an end. Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, Behold, it is {k} written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,
(k) So that the remembrance of it cannot be forgotten. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers {l} together, saith the LORD, who have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.
(l) Will be both punished together: and this declares how the children are punished for their fathers faults, that is, when the same faults or like are found in them. Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a {m} blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sake, that I may not destroy them all.
(m) That is, it is profitable: meaning that God will not destroy the faithful branches of his vineyard, when he destroys the rotten stocks, that is, the hypocrites. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. And {n} Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
(n) Which was a plentiful place in Judea to feed sheep, as Achor was for cattle. But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that {o} troop, and that furnish the drink offering to that number.
(o) By the multitude and number he means their innumerable idols of whom they thought they could never have enough. Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. Therefore will I {p} number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I {q} spoke, ye did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and did choose that in which I delighted not.
(p) Seeing you cannot number your gods, I will number you with the sword. (q) By my prophets, whom you would not obey. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall {r} eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
(r) By these words, eat and drink, he means the blessed life of the faithful, who have always had consolation and full contentment of all things in their God, though sometimes they lack these corporal things. Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: And ye shall leave your name for a curse to my {s} chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by {t} another name:
(s) Meaning, that he would call the Gentiles, who would abhor even the very name of the Jews for their infidelities sake. (t) Than by the name of the Jews. That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. That he who blesseth himself in the {u} earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former {x} troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from my eyes.
(u) By blessing, and by swearing is meant the praising of God for his benefits, and the true worshipping of him, who will not be only in Judea, but through all the world. (x) I will no longer permit my Church to be desolate as in times past. For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. For, behold, I create {y} new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
(y) I will so altar and change the state of my church, that it will seem to dwell in a new world. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. There shall be no more from there an infant of days, nor an old man that hath {z} not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being {a} an hundred years old shall be accursed.
(z) Meaning, in this wonderful restoration of the Church there would be no weakness of youth, nor infirmities of age, but all would be fresh and flourishing: and this is accomplished in the heavenly Jerusalem, when all sins will cease, and the tears will be wiped away. (a) By which he shows that the infidels and unrepentant sinners have no part of this benediction. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. And they shall {b} build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
(b) He proposes to the faithful the blessings which are contained in the law, and so under temporal things comprehends the spiritual promises. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. The {c} wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox: and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. (c) Read Isa 11:6. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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